Women's Golf Inks Top-Ranked Nicole Morales to National Letter of IntentMorales is rated the No. 1 player in the class of 2014 in the Golfweek and Polo Junior Golf Rankings

Nicole Morales will begin play for the Crimson Tide in the fall of 2014.

Nov. 14, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama women's golf coach Mic Potter signed the nation's consensus No. 1 recruit to a national letter of intent on Thursday with Nicole Morales inking with the Crimson Tide.

"It has been an entire year since I verbally committed to Alabama," Morales said. "Just to be able to sign is a dream come true because I'm getting a scholarship to the best golf school in the country."

Morales hails from South Salem, N.Y., and plays at Lake Mary Prep in Florida where she is coached by Cheryl Anderson at the Mike Bender Golf Academy. She is ranked first in the class of 2014 in the Polo Junior Golf Rankings and the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index.

"Besides being an outstanding person and student, Nicole is the No. 1 ranked junior girl in the 2014 class," Alabama head coach Mic Potter said. "Nicole's parents, Miguel and Barbara, have raised a first class young lady, and her coach, Cheryl Anderson, has schooled her into a world class golfer. I am proud and honored that Nicole has chosen The University of Alabama to continue her academic and athletic career."

Morales will enroll at The University of Alabama in the fall of 2014. She will be joining a squad that has finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships for four straight years and won the 2012 NCAA title.

"Without a doubt the deciding factor for me was Coach Potter," Morales said. "Alabama was the first school I visited, and I fell in love with the campus, but truthfully Coach Potter was the deciding factor - he is a great coach. He reminds me a lot of my dad because he is very quiet and very patient and that is exactly what I think I need. I feel like Coach Potter is the best coach in the country, and I need to be with him in order to get to the next level."

Morales is a 2012 and 2013 first team Rolex Junior All-American by the American Junior Golf Association. She won the 2013 Thunderbird International Junior and finished second at the 2012 Junior Orange Bowl Championship. Morales also boasts top-five finishes at the 2013 The PING Invitational (t-4th), the 2013 Rolex Tournament of Champions (t-4th), and the 2013 Polo Golf Junior Classic (t-3rd). She also finished tied for 10th at the 2013 TaylorMade-adidas golf Junior at Innisbrook and tied for 11th at the 2013 ANNIKA Invitational.

Morales finished tied for 13th in stroke play at the 2013 U.S. Women's Amateur and then advanced to the round of 32 in match play. She played in the 2013 PING Junior Solheim Cup and posted a 2-0-1 record for the United States. Morales also won the 2013 Duke of York Young Champions Trophy.

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